Nigeria’s government on Wednesday rejected an opposition call to postpone next Saturday’s presidential election following widespread abuses in state polls last weekend.
Information Minister Frank Nweke told Reuters: ”This administration is committed to going through with the 2007 elections on schedule and handing over to a new government on May 29.”
An 18-member coalition of the main opposition parties early on Wednesday called for the indefinite postponement of the election, rejected the results of the regional poll and demanded the replacement of the official electoral commission.
About 50 people were killed in election-day violence last Saturday amid widespread abuses across Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer.
A grouping of local election observers said the results announced in 10 of 36 states did not reflect the will of the people and should be rejected.
The European Union also criticised the conduct of the poll for state governors and said the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) should seriously consider re-running the election in several states.
A statement issued after a long opposition meeting said: ”Nigerians have lost confidence in the integrity of this government and its ability to conduct free, fair and credible elections.”
The elections are expected to lead to the first handover of power from one civilian president to another since independence from Britain in 1960.
”The coalition calls on Nigerians to protest in a non-violent manner the sham elections so far conducted,” the opposition statement said.
Under Nigeria’s Constitution, elections must be held by April 29, a month before the constitutional handover date of May 29. – Reuters